Ed Hume Answers Your Gardening Questions

Ed Hume cannot answer all of the garden questions he receives, but questions
of general interest will be answered here every month. Email your questions
to HumeSeeds@aol.com. Please
note: we do not accept attachments.

Fall
is fast approaching, and I have to move a rhododendron about 4 feet tall,
with a 4 inch dia stem which has been in place for at least ten years, to
another spot in the garden where two other rhododendrons are flourishing.
Would you have a reference for, or be able to let me know the approximate
size of the root ball, about how distant around the plant the roots can safely
be cut, preparation of the new area where the plant is to be set, and any
other details that would diminish possibility of damage during transplanting?
I'll probably have to release it from its present position with a line to
the truck, unless there are other methods that may be more effective and
provide less of a shock to the root system.

Rhododendrons generally have
a fibrous root system and are among the easier plants to transplant. Start
digging at the drip line of the plant and continue inward until you reach
the dense fibrous roots. That will give you a sense as to how big the root
ball will need to be. You must move the plant with soil attached.

Prepare the new planting soil with compost, peat moss or processed manure.
Provide sufficient drainage and the plant may need to be staked the first
winter.

I am not sure what you mean by "line to a truck". If you mean to pull the
rhody out with a line...you will probably break it off. So, that's not a
good idea. Even large rhododendrons are fairly easy to move by hand.

Mandevilla are best wintered-over by taking them inside and treating them
like a houseplant.Another option is to take them to a greenhouse firm and
see if they will winter them for you. Of course, there is a charge for that
service. These tender plants must be brought indoors before frost.

I live in SE Ohio. Frost is
coming and I need to prepare my roses (100+) for the winter. I eliminate
all leaves on the ground, dig around the plant, give a shot of 10-10-10
fertilizer, hove up some soil or add some soil around the base of the rose.
Also I put a wire fence around the rose and cover to about l5" with Maple
leaves. Question- do I prune and how far down? Should I prune at all and
then next spring do the pruning? Some of my roses are 3-4 feet tall.

Sounds like you are doing
just fine with the roses, except use a 0-10-10 fertilizer. You do not want
to give them nitrogen as they go into the winter months. I suggest pruning
them back to about knee or waist high in the fall, then do the more severe
pruning in the spring. For more on rose pruning, see
"How to prune roses" in our garden archives section.